The Impact of YouTube on Elections
By DAVID ORTEZ on December 19, 2008
I entertained the impact that the Internet but in particular YouTube had in the last Presidential Election and it seems that I was not the only to notice. It seems President Bush was observant and realized that YouTube is a force not to be reckoned with.
President Bush claims, “I am the very last President not to really have to worry about YouTube" while campaigning for the White House.”
In an interview with RealClearPolitics he discussed “the role the Internet and new media played in the November 4th elections.”
He adds, “The 'gotcha' moments in my campaign in the past were few and far between," the President recalled, noting that with the advent of YouTube candidates have to be "really careful" what they say or "you're liable to see yourself on the Internet, along with 20 million other people.”
A search for “George Bush” on YouTube provides over 180k videos of comedic entertainment for the easily amused.
Imagine what an election would have been if YouTube had been capturing every moment that Bush behaved un-Presidential like.
Bush may in fact be the last President not to have to worry about YouTube while on the campaign trail but he shall be the first President to be showcased on YouTube for generations to come.
